I Tried Trader Joe’s New Products for September 2024

Trader Joe’s new items this month include a handful of delicious products, from a new flavor of egg white bites to an “Everything but the Kitchen Sink” cookie mix. As usual, I went to my local Trader Joe’s to taste their new products for September 2024. If you want to know which items are worth picking up on your next grocery run, here’s my list.

1. Sweet Chili Mango Complete Salad Kit ($3.99)

I adore Trader Joe’s salad kits. I’ve been buying them for years, and they’re consistently fresh, flavorful, and made with healthy, whole ingredients. It’s not very often that a new variety is added to the lineup, so I was excited to see the Sweet Chili Mango kit on shelves.

Inside each bag, you’ll find a handful of cruciferous veggies that make up the base, including cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, and radicchio. Add-ins include bits of dried mango, roasted sunflower seeds, and toasted quinoa. These add a satisfying crunch, while the mango brings some chew and sweetness to the salad.

Mix that all up with the packet of Thai-style sweet and spicy vinaigrette (which strikes the perfect balance between the two flavors), and you’ve got a hearty side dish that can serve around 4 people.

Rating: 9/10

2. Crunchy Pops ($2.49)

I wasn’t sure about these puffed snacks when I first opened the bag because I noticed a synthetic smell to them. Luckily, that didn’t translate into the flavor of these chips, or “pops,” as Trader Joe’s calls them.

These are a healthier alternative to regular potato chips – they’re made with potato starch, pea flour, and corn flour. They’re also air-puffed and baked rather than deep-fried. I loved the amount of salt on these, and the crunch was even better than a regular potato chip. I hope Trader Joe’s comes out with more flavors in the future (like BBQ or sour cream & onion.)

Rating: 8/10

3. Sweet Potato Habanero Hot Sauce ($2.99)

I loved the idea of this hot sauce but didn’t love the execution. I’ll admit that I’m slightly sensitive to spice, so it could be a “me” thing, but this hot sauce is absurdly hot. It was so hot that I couldn’t even taste the sweet potato or warming spices that were supposed to be inside, nor could I taste the food I put the sauce on top of.

This sauce might be better suited for mixing into chili, soups, or marinades where the heat can be evenly distributed. That being said, if you’re a spice enthusiast, this is a sauce you need to try.

Rating: 6/10

4. Pizza Sauce ($1.99)

This next new Trader Joe’s product is a major find. Their store-brand pizza sauce is just as delicious as the name-brand stuff, which can cost three or four times more. The first thing I love is the simple, straightforward ingredient list: tomato paste, sugar, salt, extra virgin olive oil, water, and a handful of herbs and spices.

This pizza sauce is a blank slate. Add whichever cheese and toppings you desire because this classic flavor profile will complement anything. For a fun, cheap dinner, pair it with some cheese and ready-to-bake pizza dough (I recommend Mama Cozzi’s from Aldi, which costs less than $1.50 per pound).

Rating: 8.5/10

5. Gluten-Free Cheese Pizza ($5.49)

Whether you eat gluten or not, this new gluten-free cheese pizza from Trader Joe’s is a must-try. If I hadn’t picked it up at the store, I would have never guessed it was a cauliflower crust. The chew, taste, and texture all seemed identical to a regular thin-crust pizza to my taste buds.

There’s just the right amount of tomato sauce and mozzarella on top to keep this pizza filling yet fairly light at the same time. The ingredient list was pretty simple as far as frozen pizzas go, too. Here’s hoping this will be a permanent addition to Trader Joe’s pizza lineup.

Rating: 10/10

6. Freeze Dried Tart Cherries ($3.99)

I’m not a fan of cherries because they usually taste like cold medicine to me. I wasn’t expecting much from these freeze-dried ones, but I was pleasantly surprised that they have a true, natural cherry flavor and nothing medicinal about them.

The tartness is the star here – they’re so sour that they taste like candy. You can eat the entire package for just 130 calories. I ate them straight from the bag, but they would be delicious when mixed with yogurt and granola.

Rating: 8.5/10

7. Unexpected Cheddar Cheese & Turkey Sausage Egg White Bites ($3.49)

I love Trader Joe’s egg white bites! My favorite flavor is Spinach & Kale, but there’s also a Cheddar Cheese & Uncured Bacon flavor. The newest addition to the lineup is the Unexpected Cheddar Cheese & Turkey Sausage flavor, which has crumbles of turkey sausage, bits of chive, and cheddar throughout.

I didn’t like these as much as the Spinach and Kale flavor. They weren’t quite as flavorful, but there’s nothing a bit of hot sauce can’t fix. I still enjoyed these and would buy them again, especially for mornings when I need something filling but only have a minute to prep breakfast.

Rating: 7.5/10

8. Sliced Seedy Multigrain Bread ($3.49)

I see sliced bread as a vessel for my sandwiches, so I don’t pay too much attention to flavor. So, I decided to try Trader Joe’s new Sliced Seedy Multigrain Bread completely plain, and also with some peanut butter on top. Both times, I was impressed by the different flavors and textures I came across.

There are sunflower, flax, and sesame seeds, along with hulled millet, rye, and oat flakes, all on wheat flour dough. The flavoring is earthy yet subtle, so you can use this bread for sweet or savory endeavors.

Rating: 7.5/10

9. Everything but the Kitchen Sink Cookie Mix ($4.49)

These cookies have a whole lot going on. The mix includes a little bit of everything: chocolate chunks, walnuts, oats, coconut flakes, mini pretzels, and caramel bits. All you need to do is add butter and an egg, and your dough will quickly come together. These are a great dessert to make if you’re low on time.

The salty bits of pretzel and caramel are my favorite aspects of this cookie, but the oats and walnuts add warmth and sweetness. I don’t think the coconut flakes go with all the other ingredients, but it was mostly covered by everything else anyway. Be sure to place these far apart from each other in the oven – as you can see, mine spread into each other as they bake!

Rating: 8/10

10. Crispy, Crunchy Coated Peanuts ($2.79)

I didn’t fully read the packaging before trying these, so I was taken aback for a moment by how savory these coated peanuts are. That’s because of the soy sauce and the savory batter around each one. This snack is absurdly crunchy in the best way possible, with just enough saltiness and sweetness to keep you coming back for more.

Rating: 8.5/10